Question: My friends told me that their Rabbi
told them to sell their toiletries along with their chametz, though I've
never done this. Am I doing something wrong?
Answer: There is much debate as to whether
toiletries with chametz ingredients may be owned and used over Pesach
with differing Kashrus organisations adopting different positions.
On Pesach, anything that is rauy
l’achilas kelev (can be eaten by a dog) is considered chametz. The
Shulchan Aruch (OC 442: 9) writes that once it becomes unfit, one may own it
over Pesach. The Mishna Berura (442:43) qualifies this ruling: while one may
own it, one is still forbidden to eat this inedible ‘food’ miderabanan (See
Rosh, Pesachim 2:1).
Defining what is rauy l’achilas
kelev and eino rauy (unfit) is not so straight forward, however.
R’ Moshe Feinstein (quoted by R’
Avrohom Blumenkrantz, Chasdei Avrohom 23) held that one mustn't
use “any kind of toiletry that human beings would eat under extraordinary
circumstances (e.g. addicts to alcohol may drink hair spray when they have no
alcohol).” (See Minchas Shlomo 1:17)
Certain cleaning agents and cosmetics
(including nail polish remover) contain denatured alcohol, ethanol that has
been made unfit for human consumption by adding chemicals (denaturants) to it.
It is possible, however, through adding various chemicals, to reverse the
process (though other chemicals are added to make this difficult). Unless one
can ascertain that the alcohol does not come from grain, this may be chametz.
R’ Moshe Feinstein (Igros Moshe OC 3:62) therefore writes that one mustn't
use any product containing denatured alcohol over Pesach. R’ Tzvi Pesach Frank
(Mikraei Kodesh, Pesach 54) quotes both those who are strict and lenient and
concludes that one should adopt the stricter position.
While the Shaagas Aryeh (75) writes
that one mustn't even swallow medicine that contains chametz, most
Poskim disagree (See Chazon Ish OC 116:8). R’ Ovadia Yosef (Yechave Daas 2:60)
writes that a choleh may take such medicine, though not one suffering
any mild discomfort. R’ Moshe Feinstein (OC 2:92) limits this hetter to
swallowing pills, though forbids chewable tablets and liquid medicines.
Certainly, anyone with a serious illness should continue taking any regular
medication, regardless of what it contains.
R’ Ovadia Yosef (Yalkut Yosef 447:2)
permits using products that contain denatured alcohol on Pesach. R’
Chaim Elazar Shapira (Minchas Elazar 5:34) writes that while people are particular, once
alcohol has been denatured, it is not considered rauy l’achilah. Thus
one may drive a car (on Erev Yom Tov and Chol Hamoed) even if the petrol is
mixed with denatured alcohol.
R’
Shimon Eider (Halachos of Pesach p25) differentiates between different types of
toiletries containing such alcohol. One only needs to be concerned about liquid
ones, such as aftershaves and perfumes, etc. though not with creams, lotions
and powders, etc. One should, however, be particular with anything that may be
consumed, including lipstick.
R’ Nachum Weidenfield (Chazon Nachum 46) discusses
using perfumes that contain chametz
on Pesach. While it is ideal to sell them, there is room for leniency.
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